Best cities for a chief engineer
The best cities for chief engineers are Corpus Christi, TX, Chandler, AZ, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for chief engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for chief engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a chief engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for chief engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for chief engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a chief engineer. While the absolute best city for chief engineers is Corpus Christi, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for chief engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a chief engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for chief engineers in 2026
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Total chief engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $142,639 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 1.36 2. Chandler, AZ
Total chief engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $137,453 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 2.81 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total chief engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $127,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 11.32 4. Tucson, AZ
Total chief engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $136,725 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 3.01 5. El Paso, TX
Total chief engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $146,050 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 1.09 6. Houston, TX
Total chief engineer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $141,145 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 1.10 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total chief engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $137,427 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 1.19 8. Glendale, AZ
Total chief engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $137,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 1.12 9. San Antonio, TX
Total chief engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $143,435 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 0.84 10. Las Vegas, NV
Total chief engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $128,177 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 1.58
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Best cities for chief engineers
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Tucson, AZ
- El Paso, TX
- Houston, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- (1 chief engineer jobs)
- (9 chief engineer jobs)
- (4 chief engineer jobs)
- (11 chief engineer jobs)
- (2 chief engineer jobs)
- (40 chief engineer jobs)
- (4 chief engineer jobs)
- (1 chief engineer jobs)
- (8 chief engineer jobs)
- (12 chief engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a chief engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $142,639 | $79,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $137,453 | $80,000 | 247,477 | 9 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $127,804 | $75,000 | 238,702 | 4 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $136,725 | $79,000 | 530,706 | 11 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $146,050 | $83,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $141,145 | $78,000 | 2,303,482 | 40 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $137,427 | $80,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 8 | Glendale, AZ | $137,701 | $80,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $143,435 | $80,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $128,177 | $76,000 | 632,912 | 12 |
| 11 | Long Beach, CA | $151,237 | $89,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $150,678 | $89,000 | 334,217 | 3 |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $150,404 | $88,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $147,829 | $87,000 | 1,406,630 | 43 |
| 15 | Anaheim, CA | $150,903 | $89,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 16 | Norfolk, VA | $122,427 | $75,000 | 245,115 | 7 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $137,347 | $80,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $142,326 | $79,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $160,274 | $96,000 | 870,887 | 29 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $137,622 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 11 |
| 21 | New Orleans, LA | $104,189 | $58,000 | 391,495 | 9 |
| 22 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,443 | $65,000 | 465,101 | 39 |
| 23 | Laredo, TX | $143,492 | $80,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 24 | Detroit, MI | $110,086 | $69,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $136,062 | $76,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $108,521 | $67,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 27 | Plano, TX | $134,766 | $76,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 28 | Aurora, CO | $107,098 | $65,000 | 361,710 | 17 |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $152,029 | $90,000 | 3,976,322 | 24 |
| 30 | Irving, TX | $135,978 | $76,000 | 238,289 | 2 |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | $107,632 | $63,000 | 660,388 | 8 |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $136,767 | $76,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 33 | San Jose, CA | $160,067 | $95,000 | 1,025,350 | 12 |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $140,153 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Washington, DC | $126,499 | $78,000 | 681,170 | 40 |
| 36 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $96,188 | $52,000 | 260,999 | 7 |
| 37 | Fort Worth, TX | $136,942 | $77,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 38 | Garland, TX | $135,179 | $76,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 39 | Virginia Beach, VA | $122,610 | $75,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 40 | Fremont, CA | $159,969 | $95,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $137,383 | $80,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 42 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,052 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 43 | Milwaukee, WI | $101,386 | $64,000 | 595,047 | 7 |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $105,749 | $61,000 | 652,717 | 4 |
| 45 | Denver, CO | $107,086 | $65,000 | 693,060 | 35 |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,950 | $57,000 | 413,651 | 128 |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $129,478 | $77,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 48 | Boston, MA | $120,516 | $76,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 49 | Anchorage, AK | $102,279 | $68,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $123,788 | $77,000 | 614,664 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for chief engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. chief engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $160,400 |
| 2 | Midland, TX | $143,423 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $137,622 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $128,177 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $126,499 |
| 6 | Huntsville, AL | $124,925 |
| 7 | Bethesda, MD | $124,085 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $120,516 |
| 9 | Alexandria, VA | $119,716 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,052 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $108,749 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,443 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,504 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $102,279 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $101,657 |
| 16 | Oshkosh, WI | $100,144 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $99,007 |
| 18 | New York, NY | $96,334 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $95,712 |
| 20 | Orlando, FL | $95,006 |
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Updated January 8, 2025